State of New Jersey Division of Codes and Standards Concurs with
Conquest Firespray’s Position Concerning Horizontal Duct Applications

July 17, 2017 05:09 PM Eastern Time

WARREN, Mich.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Conquest
Firespray, a manufacturer of fire-rated architectural and engineered
duct systems, today announced that the New Jersey Uniform Construction
Code has recently made a strong statement concerning the subcode that
addresses fire-resistance ratings of assemblies that are not
symmetrical, underSection 703.2.1.

“municipal approvals of alternative
materials, equipment, or methods of construction, which applies to
municipal approvals of alternative materials, equipment, or methods of
construction.”

This new development, published in the Summer
2017 Construction Code Communicator, Vol. 29 #2, cites
N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.7, concerning “municipal approvals of alternative
materials, equipment, or methods of construction, which applies to
municipal approvals of alternative materials, equipment, or methods of
construction.”

For fire-rated ductwork assemblies, the Construction Code
Communicator states: “In the case of fire rated ductwork, fire test
standards ISO 6944, ISO 6944-01, or ASTM E2816 where the fire rated
ducts for ventilation are tested to fire exposures may be considered
equivalent to the standard-time temperature curve, as set forth for
‘built-in’ assemblies in ASTM E119. Under all three of these ventilation
duct fire resistance test standards, there are four conditions that are
necessary for fully testing the assemblies:

Fire inside vertical

Fire inside horizontal

Fire outside vertical

Fire outside horizontal”

The State
of New Jersey is now in agreement with Conquest
Firespray, which recently made the
provocative declaration that the industry-standard horizontal HVAC
fire-rated assemblies are not in compliance with requirements of the
International Building Code (IBC). That conclusion was reached, and
confirmed, in the market during discussions with numerous state and
local code officials, contractors and engineers over a twelve-month
period. This work has revealed broad non-compliance. The recent
statement by the New
Jersey Uniform Construction Code is consistent with Conquest’s
findings.

“The State of New Jersey action follows a recent Florida
Declaratory Statement and from the City of Houston, now a matter of
law, that recognizes the need for testing of all types of ducts,
vertical and horizontal,” said John Pattillo, a Conquest
Principal and Head of Engineering. “All types of ducts must be tested,
vertical and horizontal. This is a matter not just of liability
but of life safety, and we’re pleased that the State of New Jersey has
recognized this pressing issue.”